Same-sex couple married Sunday met during apartment fire

Presiding judge: 'It really is like a movie'

Updated 5:03 am, Monday, December 10, 2012

The black smoke was what caught Margaret Ryan's attention driving down 12th Avenue East, and then she saw flames coming from the Capitol Hill apartment building.

After calling 911, she ran to try and rescue people because it was the right thing to do.

Ryan never thought that seven years later, she and one of the people she rescued from that burning apartment would be among the first same-sex couples to legally marry in Washington State.

Stephanie Lyon was asleep when the fire started that morning in 2005. Another tenant had left alcohol near bathroom candles, and that ignited the blaze, she said.

As Ryan reached her, Lyon was most worried about her Chihuahua-pug mix, Poga, and insisted the pup go first. The dog did, and they both made it out unharmed. Her neighbors also escaped without serious injuries.

Ryan, who was with a friend heading for a hiking trip, planned to continue toward the trailhead after firefighters secured the scene.

Photo: Casey McNerthney/seattlepi.com

Image 1of/8

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 8

Stephanie Lyon and Margaret Ryan were married on Dec. 9, 2012, at the King County Courthouse. It was the first day a same-sex marriage ceremony could be performed in Washington State.

Stephanie Lyon and Margaret Ryan were married on Dec. 9, 2012, at the King County Courthouse. It was the first day a same-sex marriage ceremony could be performed in Washington State.

Photo: Casey McNerthney/seattlepi.com

Image 2 of 8

King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu married Stephanie Lyon and Margaret Ryan on Dec. 9, 2012, the first day a same-sex ceremony could be performed in Washington State. The couple met in 2005 when Ryan rescued Lyon from her burning apartment building.

King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu married Stephanie Lyon and Margaret Ryan on Dec. 9, 2012, the first day a same-sex ceremony could be performed in Washington State. The couple met in 2005 when Ryan

Stephanie Lyon hugs her bride, Margaret Ryan, after they were married on the first day that same-sex unions were legal in Washington State. The couple met in 2005 when Ryan rescued Lyon from her burning apartment building.

Stephanie Lyon hugs her bride, Margaret Ryan, after they were married on the first day that same-sex unions were legal in Washington State. The couple met in 2005 when Ryan rescued Lyon from her burning

Margaret Ryan and Stephanie Lyon on the ninth floor of the King County Courthouse shortly after they were married in a 3 a.m. ceremony on the first day that same-sex unions were legal in Washington State.

Margaret Ryan and Stephanie Lyon on the ninth floor of the King County Courthouse shortly after they were married in a 3 a.m. ceremony on the first day that same-sex unions were legal in Washington State.

Photo: Casey McNerthney/seattlepi.com

Image 5 of 8

Margaret Ryan and Stephanie Lyon walk north on Third Avenue shortly after being married in a 3 a.m. ceremony on the first day that same-sex unions were legal in Washington State.

Margaret Ryan and Stephanie Lyon walk north on Third Avenue shortly after being married in a 3 a.m. ceremony on the first day that same-sex unions were legal in Washington State.

Photo: Casey McNerthney/seattlepi.com

Image 6 of 8

Stephanie Lyon, center, and Margaret Ryan were married on Dec. 9, 2012, at the King County Courthouse. It was the first day a same-sex marriage ceremony could be performed in Washington State.

Stephanie Lyon, center, and Margaret Ryan were married on Dec. 9, 2012, at the King County Courthouse. It was the first day a same-sex marriage ceremony could be performed in Washington State.

Photo: Casey McNerthney/seattlepi.com

Image 7 of 8

King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu married Stephanie Lyon and Margaret Ryan on Dec. 9, 2012, the first day a same-sex ceremony could be performed in Washington State. The couple met in 2005 when Ryan rescued Lyon from her burning apartment building.

King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu married Stephanie Lyon and Margaret Ryan on Dec. 9, 2012, the first day a same-sex ceremony could be performed in Washington State. The couple met in 2005 when Ryan

"When it was time to leave, the fire trucks blocked my car in," she recalled of her red Mitsubishi.

At some point when they were waiting, Lyon mentioned to Ryan's friend that she thought was Ryan was cute. The friend didn't relay that immediately, but on the hike later that day he eventually let it out.

Turns out Ryan thought the same about the woman she rescued.

Later that night, Ryan went back to 12th Avenue East with green tea incense. Lyon's apartment was smoke damaged, and Ryan thought the fragrance might help.

They kept seeing each other, and one day in Tukwila the pair stopped by a bonsai store. Lyon, who loves plants, was especially fond of a banana bonsai tree. Ryan later surprised her with it, and the brief postcard she included declared that they were now a couple.

That was the moment Lyon said she knew they were right for each other.

There also was that next Valentine's Day when Lyon said for the first time that she loved her partner. Ryan said the same about her.

"Not because it was Valentine's Day," Lyon said, "just because we kinda just realized."

There were struggles in the seven years leading to Sunday's ceremony. At times they were apart, "working though all of the issues that every couple has," Lyon's childhood friend, Rachel Sofferin, recalled.

"But they did."

On Aug. 18, the couple had a commitment ceremony with their closest friends as witnesses. Sunday morning, those friends came to the King County Courthouse at 3 a.m. It was the only time Superior Court Judge Mary Yu had left available on the first day that same-sex marriages became legal in Washington.

Lyon thought her partner, who drives a Metro bus, would finish her route shortly before, so the couple jumped at the opportunity.

"I sense from them a little apprehension because every couple is nervous that they're actually a part of history and they're doing it today," said Yu said that morning. "And yet there's a level of excitement that they get to do this here, they get to have it recognized and it's actually legal."

Yu began King County's first same-sex marriage ceremony at 12:01 a.m. Sunday. The judge stayed up all night and married a 12th couple shortly after 7 a.m.

"Stephanie and Margaret," Yu said shortly after 3 a.m., "on behalf of your witnesses and all those who are present and by the authority vested in me by the State of Washington, I formally and legally pronounce you spouses and partners for life."

With that, the couple shook hands as they had at their commitment ceremony, kissed, and became wrapped in each other's arms.

"It really is like a movie," Yu said. "Who rescues somebody from a building, saves their lives and then here, years later, their getting married.